The Madison Mallards (11-9, 30-25) fell in a pitcher’s duel to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (12-8, 39-17) by a score of 2-1 at Witter Field.
From the start, the game set out to be a close contest. Wisconsin Rapids threatened to score in all of the first three innings. Madison starter Logan Wonn (Jacksonville) barely survived several encounters with runners in scoring position by getting some help from his defense. In both the second and third innings, the Mallards infield produced double plays to end the Rafters scoring attempt.
Madison struck first in the third inning. After two dominant innings from Rafters starter Isaiah Carranza, Cole Daily (Notre Dame) and Andrew Baker (Florida) drove back-to-back singles up the middle to score the first run of the game. That was the only time Madison was able to string hits together, as the other four Madison base-knocks were all scattered throughout separate innings. Baker finished the day as the only Mallard with multiple hits. He was 2-4 with Madison’s only RBI. After a single today, Daily has now reached base safely in 42 consecutive games.
As for Wisconsin Rapids, Carranza threw a strong seven innings, giving up one run off five hits. Madison offered a strong pitching performance, but miscues in the field spelled the end for the Mallards. After starter Logan Wonn left the game in the fourth inning with two outs and runners on first and third, Sam Cottingham-Beard (Western Illinois) fired a pitch over the head of catcher Maverick Handley (Stanford) to allow Wisconsin Rapids’ first run to score from third base.
In the fifth, Rafter Charlie McConnell singled to right field off Cottingham-Beard. McConnell then went on to steal second base, advance to third on a wild pitch, and then score after Thomas Smart (Illinois-Springfield) mishandled a hard ground ball at third base.
Despite Smart’s error and the wild pitches, Madison’s performance in the field was drastically improved from last night’s six-error game. Matt Elsenpeter (North Dakota State) made several plays at second base for Madison, including two double plays to get out of innings.
The Mallards attempted to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth. After two strikeouts handed out by Rafter closer Layne Henderson, Smart ripped a ball up the middle that drilled Henderson in the leg. Henderson was shaken up on the play and misfired to first base, allowing Smart to second. With two outs, a full count, and a runner in scoring position, Handley struck out looking on a curve ball that barely caught the high edge of the strike zone.
Madison will have a chance to get even with Wisconsin Rapids tomorrow at Warner Park. Starting at 5:00 PM, the two clubs will begin the first game of a doubleheader. Gates are set to open at 4:00 PM. Both games are slated to be seven inning games. The twin bill was scheduled to make up a rainout back on July 21st. The two teams have danced in a seven-inning doubleheader before, but both contests ended up going into extra innings with Madison sweeping the day. Catch all the action live tomorrow at 5:00 PM on 106.7 FM and 1670 AM The ZONE.
